ICC World Cup 2023: After a months-long wait, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is finally set to announce the ICC World Cup 2023 Schedule tomorrow i.e., 27th June 2023 with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreeing to play its matches on the scheduled venues across India.
With the development, it can be confirmed that the most anticipated IND vs PAK fixture in the ICC World Cup 2023 will be held in the spectacular Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The World Cup 2023 opener and the final match are also likely to be staged in the stadium, which holds a seating capacity of over 1 Lakh.
Notably, the PCB had earlier protested after the draft schedule for the coveted tournament was released. The then-PCB chief Najam Sethi demanded change in the venues due to security issues. They had conveyed their message to the ICC office bearers, who had visited Pakistan to seek PCB’s assurance for the World Cup 2023.
However, as per the latest reports, the PCB has come to terms with the BCCI and ICC and the tournament will proceed as per the planned schedule.
“The schedule will be out on Tuesday. There is an ICC event. Yes, Pakistan has agreed to the planned schedule. There will not be any changes,” said a senior BCCI official.
ICC World Cup 2023: IND vs PAK match to be held in Ahmedabad
The IND vs PAK fixture is always a sold-out show in cricket. The rivalry between the two neighbours has grown many folds in the coming years and the two sides will again be against each other in the World Cup stage.
The BCCI official added that being one of the most crucial games of the tournament and it will be held in front of the packed Ahmedabad crowd at Narendra Modi Stadium.
“India Pakistan will be in Ahmedabad. Yes, Pakistan did put in a request. But there won’t be any changes. It is the most important clash of the entire tournament and there is no way ICC would let go of that,” the BCCI official added.
Notably, the hosts and the ICC have exclusive rights to determine which fixture will be held in which venue during the ICC World Cup. The ICC law says that the venues can only be changed if there are some genuine security threats to the players.
“The next big stadium is in Lucknow and Kolkata. But the hosts have the rights to determine a venue and Ahmedabad fits the best considering the profile of the match with VVIPs attending the clash.”
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